Engine starting device



Jan. 3, 1933. J, o, CRAWFORD 1,893,070

ENGINE STARTING DEVICE Filed' Feb. 16 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I n veni or Jase Qflrawfard,

A llorney Jan. 3, 1933.

J. o. CRAWFORD 1,893,070

ENGINE STARTING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet '3 X K Filed Feb. l6 1931 A tlorney Patented Jan. 3, 1933 PTE FFEQE JESSE O. CRAWFORD, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS ENGINE STARTING DEVICE Application filed February 16, 1931.

This invention relates to an engine starting device particularly for use on automobiles and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which is engageable by the clutch pedals of the automobile upon depression of said clutch pedals for energizing the starting motor to crank the engine.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an engine starting device of the character described which will be simple in construction, strong, durable, efiicient and reliable in operation, which may be manufactured at low cost and installed for operation on conventional automobiles without the necessity of materially altering said automobiles structurally.

All of the foregoing and still further ob- 'ects and advantages of the invention will go ecome apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with V the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresp 0nding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in top plan showing a starting device in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is a detail view in section taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 1-4 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure '5 is a detail view in vertical cross section through the vacuum cylinder taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 3 looking in the direction indicated by the ar rows.

Fi re 6 is a detail view partly in section showing the starting switch lever operating pin and means for mounting same on its supporting arm.

Figure 7 is a detail view in side elevation of one of the shaft supporting brackets.

Figure 8 is a detail view in perspective showing the other shaft supporting bracket. Referring to the drawings in detail, it will Serial No. 516,263.

be seen that the reference numeral 1 designatcs the starting motor of an automobile engine upon which is mounted a conventional switch 2 which is provided as usual, with a control lever 3. The lever 3 is operatively engageable with the usual switch button A on the switch 2. A conductor cable 4: is connected .with the switch and extends therefrom to the storage battery of the automobile (not shown). The reference numeral 5 represents a casting in the form of a sleeve forming a part of the steering apparatus of the automobie in which is journalled the steering post 6. The clutch pedal of the automobile is designated by the reference numeral 7. All of the foregoing is of conventional construction and forms no part of the present invention.

A bracket 8 is rigidly mounted on the starting motor 1 adjacent one side of the starting switch 2 and is provided with an angularly disposed base portion 9 having holes 10 (see Figure 8) in its end portions for the passage of the anchoring bolts 12 for rigidly mounting the bracket 8 in position. The bolts 12 are the same bolts, which are utilized to secure the supporting bracket for that side of the switch 2 in position on the starting motor 1. A bracket 13 is rigidly mounted in upstanding position on the sleeve 5 of the automobile steering apparatus and is provided with a specialy shaped lower end portion 14 provided with notches or recesses 15 for the reception of the usual securing bolts 16 of the steering apparatus. If desired the brackate 8 and 13 may be mounted on the frame or ionic other convenient part of the automo ile.

A transverse, horizontally disposed shaft 17 is journalled for oscillation in the brackets 8 and 13 one end of the shaft 17 having a cotter pin 18 therein. An arm 19 is fixed onthe end portion of the shaft 17 which is adjacent the bracket 8 and projecting laterally from the free end portion of the arm 19 is a pin 20 which is disposed beneath the starting switch lever 8 for operative engagement therewith upon swinging movement of the arm 19 in a manner to close the circuit to the starting motor 1 for cranking the engine.

An arm 21 is adjustably mounted on the other end portion of the shaft 17 and has formed integrally with its free end portion a substantially cylindrical casting 22 upon which is mounted a cylinder 23, said cylinder 23 having one end portion fitting telescopically over. a reduced portion of the casting 22 and secured in position by the screws 24. The free end portion of the cylinder 23 has formed therein an abutment 25 against which is disposed a metallic disk 26 having a centrally disposed opening 27 therein. The abutment 25 constitutes means for spacing the disk 26 from the free end wall of the c linder 23. A neck 28 communicates with the cylinder 23 at a point between the disk 26 and the free end wall of said cylinder and the neck constitutes means for coupling one end of a suction tube or conduit 29 to the cylinder 23. The tube or conduit 29 has communication with the intake manifold B of the automobile engine.

The casing 22 is provided with a central bore 30 in which is slidable a rod 31 which extends into the cylinder 23 and has fixed thereon a piston 32. A coil s ring 33 is mounted in the cylinder 23 and as one end engaged with the disk 26 and its other end engaged with the iston 32 in a manner to yieldmgly urge sai piston 32 toward the casmg 22 in a manner to dispose'the rod 31 in the path of the clutch pedal 7.

A stop pin 34 projects from the starting switch 2 for engagement with the arm 19 in a manner to limit the swinging movement of said arm 19 toward its inoperative position. It is understood, of course, that the starting switch lever 3 is returned to circuit openin position by the usual spring means locate within the casing of the starting switch 2. This occurs after the pin 20 has ceased to exert a pressure against the starting switch lever 33.

The set screw which adjustably secures the arm 21 on the shaft 17 is designated by the reference numeral 35. It may also be well to here state that the supporting brackets for the starting switch 2 are designated by the reference numeral 36 and, as best seen in Fi ure 4 of the drawings, the base portion of the bracket 8 rests on the base or foot portion of the adjacent starting switch bracket 36.

In use, when the engine of the automobile I is not 0 erating, the outer end portion of the rod 31 is disposed in the path of clutch pedal 17 by the coil spring 33 which is engaged with the piston 32. To start the automobile engine, the ignition circuit to the engine is closed after which the clutch pedal may be depressed to disengage the clutch of the automobile. Continued downward movement of the clutch pedal after the disengagement of the clutch will engage the pedal with the rod 31 and swing the arm 21 downwardly in a manner to rock the shaft 17 and swing the arm 19 upwardly, thus actuating the starting switch lever 3 in a manner to close the cir;-' cuit to the starting motor 1 for cranking the engine. When the engine begins to operate under its own power a suction is created in the cylinder 23 through the tube or conduit 29 for drawing the piston 32 toward the free end of the cylinder 23 against the tension of the coil spring 23, thus moving the rod 31 out of the path of the clutch pedal 7 The rod 31 is maintained in this position by suction so long as the engine is operating, as will be readily ap arent.

It will t us be seen that the clutfi pedal may be used as usual for shifting gear when the engine is running. When the engii: :tops the suction in the cylinder 23 is eliminated and the coil s ring 33 moves the rod 31 again in the path 0 the clutch pedal 7.

It is believed that the many advantages of an engine starting device constructed in ac' cordance with this invention will be readily understood, and although the preferred em bodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A starting device for engines having a clutch pedal, an intake manifold, and an electric starting motor and switch therefor, comprising a shaft, means for supportin the shaft for oscillation, means on the sha toperatively engageable with the starting motor control switch of the engine for closing said switch upon actuation of the shaft in one direction, and disconnectable connecting means for operatively coupling the shaft to the engine clutch pedal for actuation thereby when said pedal is moved to clutch disengaging position, the last named means comprising an arm fixed on the shaft, a cylinder mounted on the free end portion of the arm, a rod extending slidably into the cylinder from one end thereof and projecting beyond said one end, a piston fixed on the inner end portion of the rod and disposed for reciprocation in the cylinder, a spring operatively engaged with'the piston in a manner to yieldingly urge same in one direction in a-mannor to dispose the rod in a osition for engagement by the clutch peda and a conduit connecting the cylinder with the intake manifold of the engine in a manner to create a suction in the cylinder for moving the piston in the other direction against the tension of the coil spring and to dis ose the rod in a position out of the path of tiie clutch pedal.

2. An engine starting device comprisin a pair of upstanding brackets, a honzontaily disposed shaft journalled for oscillation in associated withsaid switch, a pin mounted on the free end portion of the arm and projecting laterally therefrom for engagement with said lever for actuating the starting 5 motor control switch of the engine in a manner to close said switch upon actuation of the shaft in one direction, means for limit ing the swinging movement of the arm in the ot er directlon, an engine clutch edaliand 1 disconnectable connectmg means or o eratively coupling the shaft to the engine c utch pedal for actuation thereby when said clutch pedal is moved to clutch disengaging position. In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

'JESSE O. CRAWFORD. 

